RUSSIAN REORGANISATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN REORGANISATION.

NEW '[ DIRECTION OF WAR. SMALL COMMITTEE FORMED. A. and N.Z. Cable. ,' PETEOGEAD, March 25. ,Mi Gutchkoff, Minister, for; War-.tod the Navy, is preparing a scheme under which a. committee, consisting of the Ministers for War, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, will become responsible, for the main direction of the war, the Commander-in-Chief to retain a free hand in strategy. ''The Ministers for Communications and Agriculture 'will possibly join the committee. General Alexieff has notified the President of the Council that the army has taken the oath of loyalty to the Fatherland and the Provisional Government.... '> ; • " .It is officially announced that the Grand Duke Nicholas has retired from the post of Commander-in-Chief, which he assumed on the Tsar's abdication. General Alexieff, Chief of the General Staff, takes the chief command temporarily. ••: The Petrograd correspondent of a Rome newspaper states that the old Russian flag has been abolished and that all regiments have adopted the rod flag. ; \

GERMAN APPROACHES. REJECTION BY SOCIALISTS. ;:' ' . /LONDON. March.2s.' The Berne'coiT?spondent of the Observer states -that several German agents,-includ-ing -, two . prominent Socialists, during the past week approached -Russian Socialists and political refugees in v Switzerland, urging them to return to Russia and use' their influence for peace. Large sums were offered, with safe conduct through Germany. . The offer was contemptuously rejected, a leading Russian Socialist refugee . bidding the ; Germans return to . Germany and first free ■ the Germans from Prussian despotism.; I ■'■■•■ '-. ". -V' • ' ■■ -'/ \ The ; Petrograd , authorities havo ' seized innumerable manifestos and placards printed in Germany urging the re-estab-lishment of the old regime. ■ The Mayor of Moscow, on behalf of the municipality, has sent 'a : message .to '■ Prince Lvoff, , the s Prime, Minister, 1 claiming that ! that city should be the seat; of the Constituent Assembly. ; ' • „!,"-.:•/':/ I AN UNDESIRABLE ELEMENT * LOSS OF BALANCE. \;\ Times.. LONDON. March 25. The Petrograd correspondent of the London Times states that one or two of the newspapers.are ';. stirring -up wholesale resentment against V the /Romanoffs,"/and. are pandering to the morbid and'gruesome! instincts of the masses. The counsels of moderation are .falling/ on -deaf /ears;/the nerves of the public having been shaken by recent events, with a ■ resultant loss of tone and balance. % •' ; The popular Socialist Party issued a . proclamation l stating -, that since its -, formation ; it" has urged .the'- convocation ;of the Constituent Assembly .as the /only/ means of establishing order in conformity with the will of the, people. It now invites all to support- the Government. .

The Holy Synod exhorts the faithful to unite ' in 'brotherly, love, to abandon discord, and to ' grant . full ; confidence the Provisional Government ' arid devote all ' efforts ; Ho' : lead eternal Russia to the paths of liberty, happiness, and glory. ' ■ ' - ? POLITICAL EXILES. ; INVITATION TO RETURN. A. and N.Z. Cable. > MELBOURNE. March 26. The Russian Consul-General has received instructions,to render the fullest assistance to . any: Russian political exiles . desirous of returning to Russia, even to the extent of granting a -loan to pay their : passages. ',' ■"*'.■'*? ?■■;• ';■"■;'■ * ■"'.;.' DIPLOMATIC COURTESIES. HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS. (Rood. 10 p.m.) .-; .. PETROGRAD, March 25. The British, . French, >, and Italian Ambassadors presented their respects to the Piwisional 1 •> Government, •M. Miliukoff, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replying on i behalf of the .Government,-; said he had; full: confidence 'j that ~ Russia ; would justify the hopes : and | expectations of all her well _ wishers. \ ._-;.,, \ ~>-,. ' .' *